FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles (12-13, 8-6 ASUN) returns home Thursday night, welcoming the ASUN-leading Eastern Kentucky (22-5, 13-1) to Alico Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Play4Kay Night. The pink out game emphasizes uniting coaches, players, officials, and fans in the fight against all cancers affecting women, as the basketball community continues working together to end cancer.
Thursday's matchup marks the eighth meeting between the two programs, with FGCU holding a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series. The Eagles won the most recent meeting on March 11, 2025 in Fort Myers, earning a 63-47 victory to advance to the ASUN Championship game. In that contest, Emani Jefferson paced FGCU with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Lauryn Taylor added 15 points and 13 boards.
FGCU enters the contest coming off a 62-52 road loss at Stetson on Feb. 14, moving to 8-6 in the ASUN. The Eagles stayed competitive throughout, highlighted by balanced scoring that saw Cerina Rolle and Airah Lavy each finish with 12 points while Sinai Douglas added 10 points and nine assists. FGCU shot eight three-pointers and remained within reach into the fourth quarter, but Stetson used a late surge to secure the win despite the Eagles' effort on the glass and defensive pressure.
Eastern Kentucky arrives in Fort Myers riding momentum after a 73-56 home victory over North Alabama on Feb. 14 to improve to 13-1 in the conference. The Colonels controlled the game with efficient shooting and defensive activity, led by Joseana Vaz's 17 points, while Liz Freihofer and Althea Kara Angeles each added double figures. Eastern Kentucky built separation early with a strong second quarter and sustained the advantage behind rebounding and free-throw production.
This season, FGCU's defense has set the tone in conference play. Entering Thursday's matchup, the Eagles are holding ASUN opponents to the fewest points per game (55.1), the second-lowest field goal percentage (36.3%), and the lowest three-point percentage (23.6%), while also allowing the second-fewest rebounds (33.2). Individually, Sinai Douglas leads the Eagles in scoring at 11.5 points per game while ranking among the league leaders in assists (3.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio. Nay Staton provides interior presence at 10.9 points per game and ranks among the conference's top free-throw shooters at 78.2%, while Anna Mortag and Eve Alexander anchor the rim protection. The Eagles average 62.4 points per game, shoot over 43% from the field, and generate offense through ball movement and perimeter spacing while relying on defensive pressure to create transition opportunities.
Eastern Kentucky has built its conference success around efficient and physical play. The Colonels average more than 70 points per game and shoot efficiently from the field while controlling the glass, averaging nearly 37 rebounds per contest. Vaz leads the offense with consistent perimeter scoring, Freihofer provides shooting and playmaking, and Angeles contributes as a versatile forward capable of stretching defenses. Eastern Kentucky also creates second-chance opportunities and gets to the free-throw line at a high rate, key factors in its league-leading record.
For FGCU, the focus centers on continued growth as the regular season enters its final games. Keys to the game include valuing possessions, putting pressure on the rim, protecting the paint defensively, limiting second-chance opportunities, and improving game by game.
Following Thursday's contest, the Eagles head back on the road for the final time of the regular season, traveling to Jacksonville to face the Dolphins on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. inside Swisher Gymnasium.
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